Cushioning mechanism



Feb. 25, 1936. p. s. BARRQWS CUSHIONING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1931 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED ,STATES CUSHIONING MECHANISM Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application January 23, 1931, Serial No. 510,791

7 Claims.

This application is a continuation, in part, of my application Serial No. 378,094, filed July 13, 1929.

This invention relates to friction shock absorbing mechanism and its arrangement with railway draft rigging so that a portion of the mechanism housing functions as the ordinary front follower, Without increasing the length, whereby said housing is adapted to be stopped against forward movement without the use of front draft lugs.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide singleand doubleended cushioning mechanism, portions of the housings of which are slotted to receive horizontal. connecting draft keys, and, if double-ended, the parts of which are adapted to operate in series in association with the sills of railway rolling stock, so that the mechanism will function to provide greater energy absorbing capacity under buff than under draft.

Another object of my invention is the provision of cushioning mechanism involving a housing with longitudinally extending walls connected by a transversely extending wall with a normally horizontal partition connecting the side walls and slotted for receiving a connecting draft key, an end, or the ends, of said housing being open, with stationary friction plates connected thereto, movable friction plates being intercalated with said stationary friction plates, a central wedge being disposed between said plates with side wedges separating said central wedge from the intercalated plates at either side thereof, release springs being provided to act through an intermediate follower on the movable friction plates and side wedges, and through a supplemental spring plate on the central wedge, a key or other retaining means being used to hold the central wedge, and, through it, the assembled parts, in proper position in the housing, a yoke normally being employed to embrace the mechanism and limited in rearward movement by a backstop, or other limiting means, the yoke being normally connected to an associated coupler by a draft key, or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:-

Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of one form of my cushioning mechanism shown partly on the line II of Fig. 2, and partly in side elevation, assembled with associated draft rigging, portions of the associated backstop, coupler and cheek plates being illustrated.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing cushioning mechanism of the doubleended type.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a cushioning mechanism or draft gear I comprising a housing or casing 2 with normally vertical side walls 3 connected by top and bottom walls 4 and 5, and a transverse wall 6, said transverse Wall, in the present embodiment, being the front end wall, from which extends a normally horizontal partition I.

The partition I divides the housing into normally upper and lower compartments 8 and 9 which in the embodiment shown, receive four 20 nests or units of release springs l0. Said springs may be single coil or multiple coil, as desired. A fifth nest or unit ll of release springs desirably engages the free end or face of the partition I, and the free end of said nest of springs l l engages a supplemental spring plate I2 which, through a force-transmitting element or stem member l3, acts directly on the central wedge member l4, rather than indirectly through associated side wedges, the outer end of which is engaged by the rear follower l5.

Disposed outwardly of the central wedge member M are side wedges l6 through which are pressed and held in frictional engagement with one another the stationary friction plates l1, l8 and I9, and the movable friction plates 20 and 2| intercalated therewith. The inner ends of the movable friction plates and side wedges are engaged by the intermediate follower 22 acted on by the release springs Ill. The stationary wedge plates [1, l8 and 19 are desirably held in place in the housing by means of lugs or extensions thereon engaging in corresponding notches in the side walls of the housing, said plates, of course, being first inserted in place when diagonally disposed, and then moved to horizontal positions in locked relation with the housing, and the other elements applied in assembled relation, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1.

After assembly, the parts are desirably held in position by means of a horizontal key or retaining element 23 passing through a slot 24 in the central wedge member I4, and through elongated slots 25 in the side walls 3 of the housing, said slots 25 permitting the desired inward movement of the key 23 and associated central wedge member M to allow for full compression of the mechanism. The key 23 may be sodisposed that the central wedge l4 and the associated parts hold the release springs l0 and II under any initial stress desired.

The release springs l0 and l l are desirably retained in place by lugs 26 on the housing, and lugs 21 on the intermediate follower 22, the inner 'or front end of the stem or force-transmitting element I3 serving as spring centering means for the spring unit I I.

In utilizing the shock-absorbing mechanism dis closed, an associated coupler 28 desirably abuts the wall 6 of the housing and is connected to a yoke 29 which embraces the rear follower l5 and associated mechanism I, and is connected to the coupler as by means of a horizontal key 30. The side arms of the yoke 29 are desirably slotted to receive a second key 3| which extends through a corresponding slot 32 in the horizontal partition 1 and side walls 3 of the housing, and has its ends received in corresponding slots 33 in associated cheek plates 34 and sills 35. The slots 33 in the cheek plates are desirably elongated rearwardly of the normal position of the key3l so as to permit rearward movement of the housing 2, so that it slides over the central wedgell4 until the side wedges I6 and movable friction plates 2|] and 2| engage the rear follower .l 5, causing said elements to also be telescoped with the housing 2 to effect compression of the release springs l0 and l l. The slots 33 inthe cheek plates are desirably disposed with their forward ends terminating at the normal forward position of the front edge of the key 3 I, so that said key serves as a front stop for limiting forward movement of the housing and associated mechanism. Rearward movement of the yoke 29 and associated rear follower l5 may be limited by any desired means, such as an associated backstop 36.

Referring now. to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3, a cushioning mechanism l is there disclosed which involves a housing or mechanism casing 2*, open at both ends, rather than closed at one end, as in the previous embodiment. The housing 2 is divided into two main parts by a transverse wall or normally vertical partition 6 and into upper and lower compartments for the associated release springs In by a normally horizontal partition 1 Each end of the housing 2 receives stationary friction plates Il 18 and W movable friction plates 2t] and 2 l side wedges I6 and a central wedge element H said latter element being retained and, in turn, retaining the associated elements by means of a key 23 passing through a slot 24 in the central wedge M and through elongated slots 25 in the side walls 3 of the housing 2 As in the previous embodiment, an intermediate follower 22 isprovided at each end engaging on one side the release springs Ill and on the other, the side wedges and movable friction plates. As in the previous embodiment, the other ends of the release springs It] engage the wall or partition 6*, and the corresponding ends of release springs H engage the ends of the horizontal partition l The supplemental release springs I l engage supplemental spring plates H and, through a plunger or forcetransmitting element 13 act on the central wedge member H independently of the side wedges IB Front and rear followers I 5 are employed, respectively engaging the front and rear central wedges M As in the previous embodiment, the mechanism is stopped by a key 3| passing through a slot 32 in the horizontal partition I and side walls 3 with its ends received in slots 33 in associated cheek plates on the draft sills of the railway vehicle. The mechanism and associated followers l5 are embraced by a yoke 29 connected to an associated coupler, in any desired manner, as by means of a front draft key, as in the previous embodiment.

The double-ended mechanism here disclosed may be utilized by connecting it to an associated coupler 28 by means of the horizontal yoke 29 surrounding the mechanism and associated followers with the looped or rear end disposed between the rear follower and an associated backstop or other rearward limiting means 36*, said yoke and coupler being connected by a front draft key, as in Fig. 1, or other means for harnessing the parts together. The yoke 29 has its side arms slotted for receiving the key 3| which connects the mechanism to the associated cheek plates 34 the slots in said cheek plates, as in the previous embodiment, being extended rearwardly to permit the housing 2 to move rear wardly under the action of bufling forces for the compression of the mechanism at both ends thereof, while preventing forward movement of the housing, whereby only the mechanism at the rear end is stressed under the action of draft forces.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that under the action of draft forces the housing 2 is held stationary by the key 3| when the coupler 28 pulls the yoke 29 forwardly through the connecting means, moving the rear follower I5 and pushing the central wedge member l4 and associated movable elements l6, 20 and 2| past the stationary elements Il H3 and 19 to develop friction and compress the associated release springs lll and Il thereby actuating only the rear cushioning mechanism or rear half of the double-ended gear l utilizing only one-half, or one part, of the total capacity of said gear, which, at the same time, permits only one half, or one part, of the movement permitted under a full compression of the gear.

Under the action of bufling forces, however, the butt of the coupler 28 engages the front central wedge M pushing said wedge and movable friction elements into the front end of the housing, and compressing the associated release springs, while simultaneously moving the housing 2 rearwardly so that the rear friction elements are similarly actuated and the associated rear release springs compressed, so that a full compression of the gear is permitted. On account of this action under buff, not only is increased energy absorbing capacity provided, but a coupler travel equal to the sum of the travels permitted by the friction elements at each end of the gear is permitted. Although, for convenience and economy of manufacture, the gear is desirably made symmetrical so that the travel and capacity provided at each end is substantially identical, yet this is not essential in ac-. cordance with the broad aspect of my invention,

as the capacities and travels of the two parts of the gear may be equal or different, as desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have devised forms of cushioning mechanism, both single-ended and double-ended, with the parts in each end of the double-ended mechanism adapted to be actuated in series under the action of bufiing forces, while the parts at one end only are preferably actuated under the action of draft forces. It will also be clear that I have devised a mechanism in which a relatively large frictional cushioning action is provided with relatively large areas of friction surfaces. It will also be understood that upon wear of the friction elements, the capacity of the gear may be returned to initial condition by inserting liners between the housing and the outside friction plates, thus bringing the gear action back to normal, and prolonging the life of the gear indefinitely.

Although I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact forms shown, as modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with walls connected by a transversely extending partition disposed intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of side walls connected by a partition disposed generally parallel to the other side walls, said connected side walls and partitions being slotted to receive a draft key, the ends of said housing being open, stationary friction plates connected to said housing adjacent each end, movable friction plates intercalated with said stationary friction plates at each end, a central wedge member disposed between said plates at each end, side wedges separating said central wedge member from the intercalated plates at either side thereof, followers engaging the inner ends of said intermediate friction plates and side wedges, release springs disposed between said intermediate followers and transverse partition, supplemental release springs and plates acting on said central wedge members and engaging the ends of said partition disposed substantially parallel to a pair of walls, and keys extending through said housing and central wedge members for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled with the housing.

2. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with oppositely disposed pairs of side walls connected by a transversely extending wall, a pair of said side walls being connected by a partition extending generally parallel to the other pair of side walls, said connected side walls and partition being slotted to receive a draft key, an end of said housing being open, stationary friction plates connected to said housing adjacent said open end, movable friction plates intercalated with said stationary friction plates, a central wedge member disposed between said plates, side Wedges separating said central wedge member from the intercalated plates on either side thereof, a follower engaging the inner ends of said movable friction plates and side wedges, release springs disposed between said intermediate follower and transversely extending wall, a supplemental release spring engaging an end of said partition and acting on said central wedge member, and a key extending through said housing and central wedge member for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled with the housing.

3. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with walls connected by a transversely extending partition disposed intermediate the ends thereof, one pair of side walls connected by a partition disposed generally parallel to the other side walls, the ends of said housing being open, friction elements in each end of the housing, spring means for resisting movement of said elements, said friction elements comprising a central wedge member and said spring means comprising release springs acting on said central wedge member, independently of the other friction elements, and engaging the ends of the last-named partition,

and means for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled with the housing.

4. Cushioning mechanism comprising a. housing with oppositely disposed pairs of side walls connected by a transversely extending wall, one pair of said side walls being connected by a partition extending generally parallel to the other pair of side walls, an end of said housing being open, friction elements received in said housing, spring means for resisting movement of said elements, said friction elements comprising a central wedge member and said spring means comprising a release spring engaging an end of said partition and acting on said central wedge member, independently of the other friction elements, and means for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled with the housing.

5. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with a pair of side walls connected by a partition disposed generally parallel to the other side walls, the ends of said housing being open, stationary friction plates connected to said housing adjacent each end, movable friction plates intercalated with said stationary friction plates at each end, a central wedge member disposed between said plates at each end, side wedges separating said central wedge member from the intercalated plates at either side thereof, followers engaging the inner ends of said intermediate friction plates and side wedges, release springs disposed between said intermediate followers, supplemental release springs and plates acting on said central wedge members and engaging the ends of said partition, and keys extending through said housing and central wedge members for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled with the housing.

6. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with a pair of side walls connected by a partition extending generally parallel to the other pair of side walls, an end of said housing being open, stationary friction plates connected to said housing adjacent said open end, movable friction plates intercalated with said stationary friction plates, a central wedge member disposed between said plates, side wedges separating said central wedge member from the intercalated plates on either side thereof, a follower engaging the inner ends of said movable friction plates and side wedges, release springs disposed between said intermediate follower and an abutment portion of said housing, a supplemental release spring engaging an end of said partition and acting on said central wedge member, and a key extending through said housing and central wedge member for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled with the housing.

'7. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing, friction elements at opposite sides of said housing, friction shoes engaging said elements, means in said housing forming an abutment, a wedge engaging said shoes, a spring disposed centrally of said housing and acting on said wedge, said abutment having a face engaged by said spring, pairs of springs on opposite sides of said first-mentioned spring and acting on the respective shoes, and extensions on opposite sides of said abutment and merging into said housing, said extensions being spaced from opposite side walls of said housing for accommodating the springs of said pairs, said abutment, extensions, and portions of the housing into which said extensions merge being apertured for receiving a connecting draft key.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

